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Time Poll: Many Americans Have Suspicious Views of Islam

By Dalia Sussman August 19, 2010 12:59 pmAugust 19, 2010 12:59 pm

A poll released on Thursday by Time magazine found that many Americans express suspicious views of Islam, and more say that building a Muslim community center and mosque near ground zero in New York City would be an insult to the victims of 9/11 than say it would serve as a symbol of religious tolerance.

More than 4 in 10 Americans say they have an unfavorable view of Muslims, many more than those who say they have a negative view of Catholics, Protestants, Jews or Mormons, the poll found. And nearly half say Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence against nonbelievers.

Unfamiliarity might be partly behind some of the negative opinions of the religion. More than 6 in 10 say they do not personally know any Muslim Americans. And these people are more likely than those who personally know a practicing Muslin to say they have a negative opinion of Islam. Indeed, among those who personally know any Muslim Americans, a majority have a favorable view, the poll found.

Most, 55 percent, say that a majority of Muslims in this country are “patriotic Americans who believe in American values.” But that still leaves a significant minority that either say Muslim Americans do not believe in American values (25 percent) or expressed no opinion (21 percent).

Republicans are more likely than independents or Democrats to express an unfavorable opinion of Muslims, and they are far more apt to say that Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence. Republicans are also less apt than independents or Democrats to say Muslim Americans are patriots who believe in American values.

Turning to the issue of the Islamic community center, 6 in 10 Americans say they oppose building it near ground zero, including 85 percent of Republicans and 63 percent of independents. Democrats are closely divided, with 43 percent favoring it and 45 percent opposed. Nearly twice as many respondents say it would be an insult to 9/11 victims (44 percent say so) than say it would serve as a symbol of America’s religious tolerance (23 percent). Another 27 percent say they agree with both of these views.

At the same time, 55 percent say they would support a Muslim proposal to build a community center and place of worship near their own home. But that is still lower than the percentage that would support one built by Catholics, Jews or Mormons.

Yet the poll suggests that the attempts to turn the building of the community center and mosque into a campaign issue have mostly failed so far. Three-quarters of Americans say the debate will not have an impact on their vote for Congress one way or the other.

The nationwide poll was conducted by Abt SRBI by telephone on Aug. 16 and 17 among 1,002 adults. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.

President Obama drew criticism on Thursday when he said, “we don’t have a strategy yet,” for military action against ISIS in Syria. Lawmakers will weigh in on Mr. Obama’s comments on the Sunday shows.Read more…